11 “Ask for a sign for yourself from the Lord your God, from the depths below, even to the heights above.”

12 And Ahaz said, “I will not ask, for I will not tempt the Lord.”

13 And (Isaiah) said: “Then listen, O house of David. Is it such a small thing for you to trouble men, that you must also trouble my God? 14 For this reason, the Lord himself will grant to you a sign. Behold, a virgin will conceive, and she will give birth to a son, and his name will be called Immanuel.”

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm 24(23):1-2, 3-4, 5-6

(7c and 10b) And the King of Glory shall enter. He himself is the King of Glory.

1 The earth and all its fullness belong to the Lord: the whole world and all that dwells in it. 2 For he has founded it upon the seas, and he has prepared it upon the rivers.

And the King of Glory shall enter. He himself is the King of Glory.

3 Who will ascend to the mountain of the Lord? And who will stand in his holy place? 4 The innocent of hands and the clean of heart, who has not received his soul in vain, nor sworn deceitfully to his neighbor.

And the King of Glory shall enter. He himself is the King of Glory.

5 He will receive a blessing from the Lord, and mercy from God, his Savior. 6 This is the generation that seeks him, that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.

And the King of Glory shall enter. He himself is the King of Glory.

A reading from the book of St. Paul to the Romans 1:1-7

1 Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called as an Apostle, separated for the Gospel of God, 2 which he had promised beforehand, through his Prophets, in the Holy Scriptures, 3 about his Son, who was made for him from the offspring of David according to the flesh, 4 the Son of God, who was predestined in virtue according to the Spirit of sanctification from the resurrection of the dead, our Lord Jesus Christ, 5 through whom we have received grace and Apostleship, for the sake of his name, for the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, 6 from whom you also have been called by Jesus Christ: 7 To all who are at Rome, the beloved of God, called as saints. Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

The word of the Lord.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 1:18-24

18 Now the procreation of the Christ occurred in this way. After his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they lived together, she was found to have conceived in her womb by the Holy Spirit. 19 Then Joseph, her husband, since he was just and was not willing to hand her over, preferred to send her away secretly. 20 But while thinking over these things, behold, an Angel of the Lord appeared to him in his sleep, saying: “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to accept Mary as your wife. For what has been formed in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21 And she shall give birth to a son. And you shall call his name JESUS. For he shall accomplish the salvation of his people from their sins.” 22 Now all this occurred in order to fulfill what was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying: 23Behold, a virgin shall conceive in her womb, and she shall give birth to a son. And they shall call his name Emmanuel, which means: God is with us. 24 Then Joseph, arising from sleep, did just as the Angel of the Lord had instructed him, and he accepted her as his wife.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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video image courtesy of Sweet Publishing/FreeBibleimages.org

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Thanks for taking some of your precious time today to read and listen to the daily Mass readings. The readings are taken and adapted from the Catholic Public Domain Version of the Holy Bible.

I appreciate your help and encouragement. Please let me know how I can help you. This is something I’ve been called to do for some time.

1 Then Jacob called his sons, and he said to them: “Gather together and listen, O sons of Jacob. Listen to Israel, your father. 8 Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be at the necks of your enemies; the sons of your father will reverence you. 9 Judah is a lion’s young. You have gone up to the prey, my son. While resting, you have lain like a lion. And just like a lioness, who would rouse him? 10 The scepter from Judah and the leader from his thigh will not be taken away, until he who will be sent arrives, and he will be the expectation of Gentiles.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm 72(71):1-2, 3-4ab, 7-8, 17

(7) Justice will rise like the sun, with abundance of peace, until the moon is taken away.

2 Give your judgment, O God, to the king, and your justice to the king’s son, to judge your people with justice and your poor with judgment.

Justice will rise like the sun, with abundance of peace, until the moon is taken away.

3 Let the mountains take up peace for the people, and the hills, justice. 4 He will judge the poor of the people, and he will bring salvation to the sons of the poor.

Justice will rise like the sun, with abundance of peace, until the moon is taken away.

7 In his days, justice will rise like the sun, with abundance of peace, until the moon is taken away. 8 And he will rule from sea to sea and from the river to the limits of the whole world.

Justice will rise like the sun, with abundance of peace, until the moon is taken away.

17 May his name be blessed forever; may his name remain before the sun. And all the tribes of the earth will be blessed in him. All nations will magnify him.

Justice will rise like the sun, with abundance of peace, until the moon is taken away.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 1;1-17

1 The book of the lineage of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham.

And king David conceived Solomon, by her who had been the wife of Uriah. 7 And Solomon conceived Rehoboam. And Rehoboam conceived Abijah. And Abijah conceived Asa. 8 And Asa conceived Jehoshaphat. And Jehoshaphat conceived Joram. And Joram conceived Uzziah. 9 And Uzziah conceived Jotham. And Jotham conceived Ahaz. And Ahaz conceived Hezekiah. 10 And Hezekiah conceived Manasseh. And Manasseh conceived Amos. And Amos conceived Josiah. 11 And Josiah conceived Jechoniah and his brothers in the transmigration of Babylon.

12 And after the transmigration of Babylon, Jechoniah conceived Shealtiel. And Shealtiel conceived Zerubbabel. 13 And Zerubbabel conceived Abiud. And Abiud conceived Eliakim. And Eliakim conceived Azor. 14 And Azor conceived Zadok. And Zadok conceived Achim. And Achim conceived Eliud. 15 And Eliud conceived Eleazar. And Eleazar conceived Matthan. And Matthan conceived Jacob. 16 And Jacob conceived Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.

17 And so, all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; and from David to the transmigration of Babylon, fourteen generations; and from the transmigration of Babylon to the Christ, fourteen generations.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Thanks for taking some of your precious time today to read and listen to the daily Mass readings. The readings are taken and adapted from the Catholic Public Domain Version of the Holy Bible.

I appreciate your help and encouragement. Please let me know how I can help you. This is something I’ve been called to do for some time.

10 Sing praise and rejoice, daughter of Zion. For behold, I approach, and I will dwell in your midst, says the Lord. 11 And many nations will be joined to the Lord in that day, and they will be my people, and I will dwell in your midst. And you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent me to you. 12 And the Lord will possess his portion, Judah, in the sanctified land, and still he will single out Jerusalem. 13 Let all flesh be silent before the face of the Lord: for he has arisen from his holy dwelling place.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm Judith 12:18(23)bcde, 19(24)

(Judith 15:9(10)) (You) are the honor of our people.

23 O daughter, you have been blessed by the Lord, the most high God, above all the women on earth.

(You) are the honor of our people.

24 Blessed is the Lord, who made heaven and earth, who has guided you in harming the head of the leader of our enemies.

(You) are the honor of our people.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 1:39-47

39 And in those days, Mary, rising up, traveled quickly into the hill country, to a city of Judah. 40 And she entered into the house of Zechariah, and she greeted Elizabeth. 41 And it happened that, as Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. 42 And she cried out with a loud voice and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43 And how does this concern me, so that the mother of my Lord would come to me? 44 For behold, as the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. 45 And blessed are you who believed, for the things that were spoken to you by the Lord shall be accomplished.”

1 The desolate and impassable land will rejoice, and the place of solitude will exult, and it will flourish like the lily. 2 It will spring up and blossom, and it will exult with rejoicing and praising. The glory of Lebanon has been given to it, with the beauty of Carmel and Sharon. These will see the glory of the Lord and the beauty of our God. 3 Strengthen the lax hands, and confirm the weak knees! 4 Say to the fainthearted: “Take courage and fear not! Behold, your God will bring the vindication of retribution. God himself will arrive to save you.” 5 Then the eyes of the blind will be opened, and the ears of the deaf will be cleared. 6 Then the disabled will leap like a buck, and the tongue of the mute will be untied.

10 And the redeemed of the Lord will be converted, and they will return to Zion with praising. And everlasting joy will be upon their heads. They will obtain gladness and rejoicing. For pain and sorrow will flee away.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm 146(145):7, 8-9a, 9b-10

(Is 35:4) God himself will arrive to save you.

7 He preserves the truth forever. He executes judgment for those who suffer injury. He provides food for the hungry. The Lord releases those who are bound.

God himself will arrive to save you.

8 The Lord enlightens the blind. The Lord sets upright those who have been thrown down. The Lord loves the just. 9 The Lord watches over new arrivals.

God himself will arrive to save you.

He will support the orphan and the widow. And he will destroy the ways of sinners. 10 The Lord shall reign forever: your God, O Zion, from generation to generation.

God himself will arrive to save you.

A reading from the letter of St. James 5:7-10

7 (Therefore,) be patient, brothers, until the advent of the Lord. Consider that the farmer anticipates the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently, until he receives the early and the late rains. 8 Therefore, you too should be patient and should strengthen your hearts. For the advent of the Lord draws near. 9 Brothers, do not complain against one another, so that you may not be judged. Behold, the judge stands before the door. 10 My brothers, consider the Prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of departing from evil, of labor, and of patience.

The word of the Lord.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 11:2-11

2 Now when John had heard, in prison, about the works of Christ, sending two of his disciples, he said to him, 3 “Are you he who is to come, or should we expect another?” 4 And Jesus, responding, said to them: “Go and report to John what you have heard and seen. 5 The blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead rise again, the poor are evangelized. 6 And blessed is he who has found no offense in me.”

7 Then, after they departed, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 So what did you go out to see? A man in soft garments? Behold, those who are clothed in soft garments are in the houses of kings. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send my Angel before your face, who shall prepare your way before you.’ 11 Amen I say to you, among those born of women, there has arisen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Thanks for taking some of your precious time today to read and listen to the daily Mass readings. The readings are taken and adapted from the Catholic Public Domain Version of the Holy Bible.

I appreciate your help and encouragement. Please let me know how I can help you. This is something I’ve been called to do for some time.

1 (And) the prophet Elijah arose like a fire, and his word burned like a torch. 2 He brought a famine upon them, and those who provoked him in their envy became few. For they could not bear the precepts of the Lord. 3 By the word of the Lord, he closed the heavens, and he brought down fire from heaven three times. 4 In this way, Elijah was magnified in his wondrous works. So who can say that he is similar to you in glory? 9 He was received into a whirlwind of fire, into a swift chariot with fiery horses. 10 He is written in the judgments of the times, so as to lessen the wrath of the Lord, to reconcile the heart of the father to the son, and to restore the tribes of Jacob. 11 Blessed are those who saw you, and who were adorned with your friendship.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm 80(79):2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19

(4) Convert us, O God. And reveal your face, and we will be saved.

2 The One who reigns over Israel: Be attentive. The One who sits upon the cherubim: Shine forth. 3 Awaken your power.

Convert us, O God. And reveal your face, and we will be saved.

15 Turn back, O God of hosts. Look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vineyard; 16 and complete what your right hand has planted, and look upon the son of man, whom you have confirmed for yourself.

Convert us, O God. And reveal your face, and we will be saved.

18 Let your hand be over the man on your right, and over the son of man, whom you have confirmed for yourself. 19 For we do not depart from you, and you will revive us. And we will invoke your name.

Convert us, O God. And reveal your face, and we will be saved.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 19:9a, 10-13

9 (And) as they were descending from the mountain, 10 (And) his disciples questioned (him Jesus), saying, “Why then do the scribes say that it is necessary for Elijah to arrive first?” 11 But in response, he said to them: “Elijah, indeed, shall arrive and restore all things. 12 But I say to you, that Elijah has already arrived, and they did not recognize him, but they did whatever they wanted to him. So also shall the Son of man suffer from them.” 13 Then the disciples understood that he had spoken to them about John the Baptist.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Thanks for taking some of your precious time today to read the daily Mass readings. The readings are taken and adapted from the Catholic Public Domain Version of the Holy Bible.

I appreciate your help and encouragement. Please let me know how I can help you. This is something I’ve been called to do for some time.

17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the Lord, your God, who teaches you beneficial things, who guides you in the way that you walk. 18 If only you had paid attention to my commandments! Your peace would have been like a river, and your justice would have been like the waves of the sea, 19 and your offspring would have been like the sand, and the stock from your loins would have been like its stones. His name would not have passed away, nor would it have been worn away before my face.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

(John 8:12) Whoever follows (the Lord) shall have the light of life.

1 Blessed is the man who has not followed the counsel of the impious, and has not remained in the way of sinners, and has not sat in the chair of pestilence. 2 But his will is with the law of the Lord, and he will meditate on his law, day and night.

Whoever follows (the Lord) shall have the light of life.

3 And he will be like a tree that has been planted beside running waters, which will provide its fruit in its time, and its leaf will not fall away, and all things whatsoever that he does will prosper.

Whoever follows (the Lord) shall have the light of life.

4 Not so the impious, not so. For they are like the dust that the wind casts along the face of the earth. 6 For the Lord knows the way of the just. And the path of the impious will pass away.

Whoever follows (the Lord) shall have the light of life.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew 11:16-19

(7) Jesus began to speak to the crowds:

16 “But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplace, 17 who, calling out to their companions, say: ‘We played music for you, and you did not dance. We lamented, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking; and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of man came eating and drinking; and they say, ‘Behold, a man who eats voraciously and who drinks wine, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is justified by her sons.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Thanks for taking some of your precious time today to read the daily Mass readings. The readings are taken and adapted from the Catholic Public Domain Version of the Holy Bible.

I appreciate your help and encouragement. Please let me know how I can help you. This is something I’ve been called to do for some time.

9 And the Lord God called Adam and said to him: “Where are you?” 10 And he said, “I heard your voice in Paradise, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and so I hid myself.” 11 He said to him, “Then who told you that you were naked, if you have not eaten of the tree from which I instructed you that you should not eat?” 12 And Adam said, “The woman, whom you gave to me as a companion, gave to me from the tree, and I ate.” 13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “Why have you done this?” And she responded, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”

14 And the Lord God said to the serpent: “Because you have done this, you are cursed among all living things, even the wild beasts of the earth. Upon your breast shall you travel, and the ground shall you eat, all the days of your life. 15 I will put enmities between you and the woman, between your offspring and her offspring. She will crush your head, and you will lie in wait for her heel.”

20 And Adam called the name of his wife, ‘Eve,’ because she was the mother of all the living.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm 98(97):1, 2-3b, 3c-4

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has performed wonders.

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has performed wonders. His right hand has accomplished salvation for him, with his holy arm.

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has performed wonders.

2 The Lord has made known his salvation. He has revealed his justice in the sight of the nations. 3 He has remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel.

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has performed wonders.

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Sing joyfully to God, all the earth. Sing and exult, and sing psalms.

Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has performed wonders.

A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12

(Brothers and sisters:)

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, in Christ, 4 just as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, so that we would be holy and immaculate in his sight, in charity. 5 He has predestined us to adoption as sons, through Jesus Christ, in himself, according to the purpose of his will, 6 for the praise of the glory of his grace, with which he has gifted us in his beloved Son.

11 In him, we too are called to our portion, having been predestined in accord with the plan of the One who accomplishes all things by the counsel of his will. 12 So may we be, to the praise of his glory, we who have hoped beforehand in Christ.

The word of the Lord.

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke 1:26-38

26 (The) Angel Gabriel was sent by God, to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27 to a virgin betrothed to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the name of the virgin was Mary.

28 And upon entering, the Angel said to her: “Hail, full of grace. The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women.”

29 And when she had heard this, she was disturbed by his words, and she considered what kind of greeting this might be.

30 And the Angel said to her: “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found grace with God.

31 Behold, you shall conceive in your womb, and you shall bear a son, and you shall call his name: JESUS.

32 He will be great, and he will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. And he will reign in the house of Jacob for eternity.

33 And his kingdom shall have no end.”

34 Then Mary said to the Angel, “How shall this be done, since I do not know man?”

35 And in response, the Angel said to her: “The Holy Spirit will pass over you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. And because of this also, the Holy One who will be born of you shall be called the Son of God.

36 And behold, your cousin Elizabeth has herself also conceived a son, in her old age. And this is the sixth month for her who is called barren.

37 For no word will be impossible with God.”

38 Then Mary said: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be done to me according to your word.” And the Angel departed from her.

The Gospel of the Lord.

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Thanks for taking some of your precious time today to read the daily Mass readings. The readings are taken and adapted from the Catholic Public Domain Version of the Holy Bible.

I appreciate your help and encouragement. Please let me know how I can help you. This is something I’ve been called to do for some time.